Push frame for snowplows, etc.



Dec. 2, 1941. F, GETTELMAN 2,264,368

PUSH FRAME FOR SNOWPLOWS, ETC

Filed Dec. 15, 1959 49 if v -Er a /4 I 3 I I 31 v Z5 i /-7 Y i M 10 4/ INVENTOR Eowcx GETTEu mrl BY 40 I y ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 2, 1941. F. GETTELMAN PUSH FRAME FOR SNOWPLOWS ETC.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1939 INVENTOR 'FREDQ'CK GETT'ELMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941 GETTELMAN 1 2,264,368

PUSH FRAME FOR SNOWPLOWS, ETC.

FREDEICK GETTEl-MAN M, AIMIALA ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUSH FRAME roa SNOWPLOWS, are.

Fredrick Gettelman, Milwaukee, Wis. Application December 15, 1939, Serial No. 309,322

11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in detachable push plow structures.

It is the primary object ofthe invention to reduce the weight of a plow such as is adapted for snow removal and for other purposes, while at. the same timeachieving other advantages to make the plow more effective.

In accordance with this general objective, I seek to make it possible to use lighter material for the plow blade, first, by reenforcing the blade at nodal points, leaving the blade free to vibrate to dislodge wet snow tending to cling thereto.

Secondly, in accordance with this general objective, I seek to provide for lost motion between the push frame and the pintle upon which the blade tilts, whereby the frame is not only adapted to support the blade for pivotal adjustment and to transmit thrust thereto independently of the pivotal supporting means, but is also adapted to permit of various adjustments with respect to that portion of the push frame which is detachably connected either with the axle or frame or a sub-frame on the propelling vehicle.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the following disclosure of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved push frame andplow, drawn to a central plane which includes the line of travel.

Figure 2 is a sectional view drawn to line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away in horizontal section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the plow adjusted for left hand delivery.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the elevating jack and associated parts, showing the push frame in cross section.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of construction.

Figure 7 is a sectional view drawn to line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a. sectional view drawn to line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

My improved push frame is formed in two main sections, which, for convenience, may be designated the front and rear sections. The front section is pivotally connected with the plow and the rear section is pivotally connected with the truck axle, the two sections being connectible in different relative positions, as hereinafter explained.

The rear or main pushing section of the push frame has side bars or beams It) provided with hinge members II to connect them with a truck supported pivot shaft l2. Shaft I2 is supported from the truck by bracket arms l3 connected with a plate or bar I, adapted to beclamped to the truck axle l5 by bolts l6 and an auxiliary clamping plate II. The main section is rectangular in its rear portion, its side bars I0 being connected by cross bars l8 and I9 and corner braced by the diagonal bars 20.

From the respective ends of the bar l9, side bar extensions 2| extend forwardly and convergently to an apex or head piece formed by their connected ends and through which a king bolt extends to connect the rear section of the push frame with the floor plate of the forward or plow supporting section now to be described.

The forward section of the push frame may conveniently be of a generally triangular form in to permit the entire forward section to be held in any one of a number of positions of angular adjustment with respect to the push frame section It). For example, the pin 38 may be positioned as shown in Figure 3 to hold the plow blade in its so-called bulldozing position, or 7' the pin 38 may be withdrawn and the front section'may be swung to one side or the other as. for example, to the position shown in Figure 4. where the hole 42 is made to register with one of the holes 43 in the main frame and the pin 38 is re-inserted through these registering holes to hold the blade in its angular plowing position. To take the stress imposed on the forward section 3|, the rear portion thereof is preferably reenforced by a triangular plate 31. This plate 31 and the portions of the forward push frame section upon which it is superposed are provided with a plurality of apertures, each adapted to re ceive the removable pin 38, as hereinafter explained.

The forward. push frame section preferably comprises a push plate 3| of sheet metal, preferably triangular in form, and reenforced by upturned side margins 34 convergent toward the rear apex 35. The forward marginal portion of this push plate 3| extends beyond the reenforcing side flanges 34 and is folded around a pintle or coupling shaft 30 which loosely connects it with the plow blade. In Figure 1 the forward margin of the push plate 3| is upturned and looped back upon itself about the pintle 30 to form a loop, hook-shaped in cross section, and a cylindrically rounded thrust bearing surface for engagement with the plow along a line substantially equal in length to the width of the plate at its forward margin. To provide additional support for the king pin 25, and to limit the relative forward and back oscillation of the shaft 30 in the loop, a spacing block or collar 21 is interposed and the king pin 25 may pass through this block, as clearly shown in Figure 1. In Figure? the forward margin of the plate 3| is downturned around the pintle 30, and a plurality of spacingblocks 21a are employed to hold the superposed portions of the plate in parallel relationship and to limit the relative oscillation of the pintle shaft 30a between the cylindrically curved portion of the loop and the spacing blocks. The clearance is sufficient in both views to allow the plow to receive the thrust directly from the cylindrically curved portion of the push plate, thus relieving the pintle shaft 30 from strain when the plow is beingadvanced.

The central portion of plow 45 is reenforced by vertically disposed rearwardly projecting stop plates 41, the upper rear corners of which are connected by the angle iron cross bar 48. This cross bar is connected by tension springs 49 with the side bars 34 of the front frame section, whereby the top of the plow is permitted to tilt forwardly when its scraping blade 50 encounters an obstruction. But as soon as the plow clears the obstruction, the springs 49 return it to normal position, as illustrated in Figure 1, with the lower margins of the stop plates 48 bearing upon the floor 3| of the front push frame section.

The reenforcing vertical stop plates 41 on the rear face of the plow blade comprise only a portion of a grid of reenforcing flanges on the rear face of the blade. This clearly appears in Figure 2, which shows the ends of the pintle 30 engaged in widely spaced parallel upright flanges 32 (also shown in Figures 1 and 3). Extending horizontally between flanges 32 and connected to the stop plates 41 is a flange 33, while a further horizontal reenforcement is provided by the angle iron 40, which is preferably continuous along the bottom of the plow and welded to the upright flanges32, as best shown in Figure 2.

The lost motion provided by the loose engagement of the push plate 3| with pintle 30 entirely relieves the pintle of strain. The thrust of the propelling vehicle is transmitted either directly to the plow blade or through the intermediate thrust plate 4! throughout the entire width of the wide forward end of the plate 3|, so that thrust pressures involved in the propulsion of the blade are not localized but are distributed along a line which may be equal in length to the width of the forward end of the plate 3|. The combination of the reenforcing grid on the rear of the blade, and, more particularly, the direct thrust engagement of the propelling push frame with the blade, independently of the pintle on which the blade tilts, makes it possible to construct the blade of much lighter material than has heretofore been thought necessary for such usage. It will be noted that because of the lost motion feature as above described, the blade may be lifted or lowered on the push frame or may be subject to controlled tilting with respect to the push frame, or may be angularly adjusted on the push frame while the messes pintle is nevertheless relieved of'the pressures developed in actual plowing operations.

Contact of angle iron 40 with the push frame provides a stop for limiting the forward tilting of the blade when an obstacle is encountered by the wear shoe or scraper 50.

The truck frame side bars 55 have their front endsconnected by a channel bar 56, to which an angle iron bar 51 is secured. A jack, preferably a hydraulic jack 5!, is mounted upon the top flanges of the bar 51, and the lifting' plunger of the jack is provided with a saddle 62 over which a chain 63 extends, as best shown in Figure 5. The ends of the chain are connected with the side bars 10 of the rear push frame section. If a hydraulic jack is employed, liquid under pressure may be supplied to the jack through a pipe 65 leading from a suitable source of supply carried by the truck.

When power fluid is supplied to the jack to raise the saddle 62, the push frame may be lifted in a swinging movement about the axis of its pivot shaft I2, thereby lifting the plow from the surface of the roadway. This may be done either for the purpose of clearing an unusual obstruction, or when the plow is to be transported from one place of use or storage to another.

The. foregoing description and the accompanying illustration disclose one form of my invention as used for connecting a truck with a snow plow. But my improved push frame is subject to a wide range of structural modification and may be used for connection with any mobile power unit designed for pushing purposes. My invention is also capable of use for tractive purposes, it being obvious that it might be attached to the rear end of a vehicle, if desired.

The triangular form of the front or plow section of the push frame, and the conversely tapered portion of the rear section, enable me to adjust the plow to the right and left hand oblique positions without objectionable corner projection of the push frame sections. The triangular form of the superposed portions of the push frame sections enables an operator to reach the pin 38 while standing at one side of the, push frame, and the pen-shaped forward section provides means for loading the plow with rock material or other weights to increase the scraping effectiveness to any desired degree. In the extreme tilted positions of the plow, one side of the plow section of the push frame is nearly parallel with the line of travel. Another form of construction will now be described, and for many purposes it may be preferred.

In Figures 6, '1 and 8 I have illustrated a push frame having convergent side bars or push bars "la, the rear ends of which are pivoted to a shaft l2a connected with the truck frame, substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Th'e rear ends of the bars Ila are connected by a cross brace a, and their front ends are connected by it connecting head Ill having an eye piece 1| through which a king bolt 25a extends to connect the push bars Ina with the floor ila of the forward section of the push frame. this section having its floor looped about a horizontally extending pivot shaft 30a and secured to spacing blocks 21a. The upper end of the king bolt 25a is supported by a U-shaped riser "a, welded or otherwise secured to the floor plate Ila. The rear end of the plate lie is reenforced by downwardly extending flanges Isa and by cross plates 14, the ends of which respectively engage the bottom and top flanges of the bars Illa, each of which bars Illa preferably has the form of an I beam.

In place of the clamping bolt 38 illustratedin Figure l, I employ an L-shaped latch or latch bolt 3811, the horizontal leg of which rests upon the top surface of an angle-shaped cross beam having a base flange 31a, which is widest in its central portion and tapers forwardly toward its respective ends. From its front margin rises a vertical flange 16, which not only adds to the strength of the entire structure, but serves as a means for connecting a set of springs 89a with brackets 18 secured to the flange Id. The other or upper ends of the springs 69a are secured to brackets IS on the flanges 88 of the plow blade 45a. Stop plates 8i, also secured to the flanges 80, project rearwardly and downwardly into positions for contact with the floor plate'3ia, or with interposed reenforcing plates 82, as clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

The latch pin 38a will normally occupy a central position between the I beam push bars We as shown in Figure 6, but when it is desired to support the plow in an oblique position this latch pin may be removed to allow the plow to be swung laterally to one side or the other on the king pin 25a until the latch pin 38a may be received in any one of the holes did provided for that purpose. To prevent the latch pin from vibrating out of position, it may be covered by a bracket 86, which may have a retaining catch 85 pivoted thereto at 86, and adapted to be swung to a releasing position, i. e., to a position which will allow the horizontal arm of the latch pin to rotate out from underneath the bracket 88, whereupon the latch pin can be readily with drawn. Similar brackets Sta may be secured to the vertical flange 16 of the cross beam and may be provided with similar swinging catches 85a to hold the latch pin 38a in the other holes 4311 when the plow is adjusted in an oblique position.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that in either form of construction illustrated in the drawingsthe plow has its lower portion connected by a horizontal pivot shaft with a supporting member which is adjacently pivoted to a main push frame, and has its rear margin connected with the push frame by a laterally adjustable coupling bolt which allows fora swinging adjustment of the plow upon the forward end of the main frame, whereby the plow may be set in various positions, including right and left, oblique or lateral delivery positions. My improved construction not only permits of th'ese adjustments, but also allows the plow to yield in vertical planes by tilting upon its pivotal connection with the supporting member or plate 3| or am. This tilting movement of the plow allows it to pass over obstructions, and it is restored to normal position by suitable springs and associated stops, which limit the action of'the springs.

A plow blade which is so designed as to vibrate while in operation will keep itself free of slush and snow without attention on the part of the operator. whereas a rigid blade requires frequent cleanings in order to maintain it effective as a plow. In order to maintain the blade in vibration it has heretofore been necessary to use fairly heavy stock in order to make reenforcements unnecessary. I have found, that it is possible to use a very light stock for the blade and to reenforce the blade in a manner whereby the greater area of the blade is free to vibrate. Rigid grid members are used to reinforce the blade, but they are so disposed that the nodal lines determined by such members do not effectively lessen the vibratory properties of the blade as a whole. While nodal areas or areas of minimum vibration result in proximity to the grid members, such areas do not extend an appreciable distance from the members provided the blade does not carry too many reinforcing members. I have found that where an arcuate blade is employed it is desirable that the top portion thereof bepermitted to vibrate freely, and that in the absence of marginally disposed reinforcing members the upper portion will freely vibrate. If one portion of the blade is free to vibrate, the vibration set up therein will be transmitted to a'blade portion which is more rigidly reinforced, even though that area is defined by reinforcing as is th'e lower central area of the present blade. This effect is probably due to the fact that the blade and the reinforcing members vibrate as a unit. Hence, so long as the reinforcing members are loosely secured to their supporting structure vibration will take place over substantially the entire blade area. I prefer to provide a minimum of reinforcing grid members in the upper blade portion and to concentrate a necessary reinforcement along the bottom margin and through the central area of the blade in a manner whereby the entire length of the blade is divided into areas of approximately onethird of the blade area each, although I do not wish to limit my invention in this manner. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiments of my invention, the grid of reenforcement as above described is located in the lower section of the blade and confined to the central area thereof. the location of the vertical flanges 32 (or 80) being preferably such as to divide the blade approximately into thirds. Because of the additional reenforcement at the center of the blade the distance between the flanges 32 is slightly greater than the distance from either flange to the corresponding end. This arrangement roughly locates the flanges at nodal points and permits substantially the entire area of the blade to vibrate as the scraper moves over the road.

I claim:

1. A push frame for snow plows and the like. having a forward section comprising the combination of a sheet metal plate reversely folded along its forward margin to provide a cylindrically rounded thrust bearing for contact with I a plow blade, and aplow blade having a coupling shaft extending loosely between the reversely folded portions of the push plate and adapted for limited forward and back sliding between such portions, and another push frame section having a rear margin adapted to be pivotally connected with a motordriven vehicle and a forward portion having coupling pin connection with the i first mentioned section at two points along the line of travel.

2. An arcuate snow plow blade having its lower central portion provided with a grid of reenforcing flanges on its rear surface, including upper, lower and side members extending upwardly to reenforce the upper portion of the blade and a push frame having one member provided with a thrust bearing forward margin for engagement with the blade along a line between the upper and lower grid members, and a coupling shaft connected with the grid and having loose pivotal connection with the bearing portion of the push frame. I

3. The combination with a snow plow blade provided with a pair of reenforcing flanges projecting from its rear surface in vertical planes,

of said flanges, a push plate having a reversely bent forward marginal portion embracing said coupling shaft and having a bearing surface for substantially continuouscontact with the blade between said reenforcing flanges, and a spacing block between the reversely bent portions of .the plate constituting a stop member to limit movement of the blade toward the push plate.

4. The combination with a snow plow blade provided with a pair of reenforcing flanges projecting from its rear surface in vertical planes, a coupling shaft connecting the lower portions of said flanges, a push plate having a reversely bent forward marginal portion embracing said coupling shaft and having a bearing surface for substantially continuous contact with the blade between said reenforcing flanges, and a spacing block between the reversely bent portions of the plate adapted to limit movement of the plow blade toward said plate, said reenforcing flanges having extensions adapted for contact with said plate when the blade is in normal plowing posi tion and resilient means between the upper portions of the plow blade and the push frame adapted to bias the blade toward normal posi' tion.

5. In a push frame snow plow assembly of the described class, the combination of a plate-like push frame section having a forward margin adapted for bea1-.1g contact with a plow blade, a plow blade having stop plates adapted to bear upon said push plate section, a cross bar connecting the stop plates with each other, and springs connecting the cross bar with said marginal portions of the push plate section.

6. In a push frame assembly of the described class, a triangular front section composed of a metal plate having a front margin provided with a pivot shaft about which the plate is folded, a cross beam interposed between the folded portions, a king bolt extending through the superposed portions of the plate and cross beam, and a connecting bolt at the rear apex for connecting it with an auxiliary section.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plow blade, of a push frame including a part extending transversely of said blade in a position to contact said blade over a substantial portion of its transverse length, and a loose horizontal pivotal connection between the blade and push frame upon which the blade is tiltable respecting the push frame, the looseness of said connection being adapted to permit direct engagement of said push frame portion with said blade, whereby to relieve the pivotal connection of stress in the propulsion of the blade.

8. In combination, in a device of the character described, a rear push frame section, a front push frame section, a king bolt pivotally connecting the forward portions of the respective sections, a removable pin for the adjustable connection of the rearward portions of the respective push frame sections in desired positions of angular adjustment, a plow blade, means providing a loose pivotal connection between the plow blade and the front section of the push frame, said connection providing sufficient lost motion for direct engagement of the push frame with the a coupling shaft connecting the lower portions for suchengagement a laterally elongated thrust surface, and reenforcing means mounted on the blade and constituting a support on which a portion of said 1m connection means is mounted.

9. The combination, in a device of the character described, with a light-weight plow blade, of a reenforcing grid applied to the rear face of the blade and comprising widely spaced upright flanges and transversely extending vertically spaced flanges, a pintle carried by said upright flanges, a push frame provided with means on which f'tid pintle is connected for the tiltable mounting of said blade, said tiltable mounting means and pintle constituting a loose pivotal connection provided with means afloroing lost motion between said sub-frame and blade sufficient for the direct engagement of the push frame with the blade to relieve the pintle of stress during the propulsion of the blade, and said push frame including a transversely elongated thrust portlon adapted for thrust engagement with the blade over a substantial portion of its transverse length, whereby widely to distribute the thrust pressure of the sub-frame in the propulsion of the blade.

10. The combination with an arcuate plow blade, of a push frame comprising forward and rear sections connected by thrust bearing means. the front margin of said forward section being provided with a bearing portion, said blade having the central portion of its rear surface provided with arcuate reinforcing flanges and a coupling shaft mounted in said flanges and having loose pivotal connection with the bearing portion of the forward push frame section, said loose pivotal connection providing such lost motion that the bearing portion of the forward push frame section is normally in direct thrust contact with said blade for the propulsion thereof during blade use whereby said shaft, while available for the tilting of said blade, is relieved of substantially all thrust during the use of the blade, leaving all portions of the plow blade free for normal vibrations imparted to it by the scraping action of the plow upon the roadway.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a push frame, of a plow comprising a resiliently vibratile sheet metal blade having a reenforcing grid upon its rear face including reenforcing members fixed to said face at nodal points whereby to support the blade while in use and at the same time to avoid interference with its freedom of vibration, and hinge means providing alost motion connection between said push frame and said plow at certain of said grid members and upon which said plow is pivotally adjustable respecting the push frame, said push frame and plow having mutually engaged thrust transmitting portions extending over a substantial portion of the length of the blade and normally in pressure engagement during blade use, the lost motion of said hinge means leaving said blade free of said push frame to a degree suflicient to permit its vibration and substantially relieving said connection of thrust transmission during blade use.

FREDRICK GE'I'I'ELMAN. 

